Football: Bears pull away from Rampants

Diondre Poole told his quarterback to throw it up and he was going to get it.

Adam Thompson, Sun Journal

Diondre Poole told his quarterback to throw it up and he was going to get it.

New Bern’s senior wide receiver hauled in a pass from Michael Hughes, and raced the rest of the way for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Bears held on for a 21-13 win over J.H. Rose on Senior Night and Hall of Fame Night at Caruso-Coates Stadium Friday.

“It was a big play. Coach Curlings told us a big play was going to happen, and it happened to be me,” Poole said. “We told the o-line just to block a little bit longer and everything was going to come.”

Poole’s only catch, a 61-yarder, gave New Bern a 14-13 advantage with 11:47 remaining.

Hughes tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining to secure the win and the second playoff seed from the Eastern Carolina Conference.

New Bern (8-3, 5-1 Eastern Carolina) will find out its playoff opponent on Saturday. The win over rival Rose should give the defending 4A state champs a home game in the first round of next week’s playoffs.

“Hopefully this will give them some momentum,” New Bern coach Bobby Curlings said. “We can play football. We just beat a 9-1 team. Hopefully it will springboard us into the playoffs, and get us going on the right track.”

Cody Purdie gained 86 rushing yards on 20 carries and got New Bern on the scoreboard with a 12-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, just a play after J.H. Rose was penalized for pass interference in the end zone.

The Rampants came back with a 58-yard interception return after the ball was knocked out of Hughes’ hand and into Copeland Spell’s arms who sprinted to the end zone.

On New Bern’s next offensive possession, Spell picked off another pass. The Rampants took advantage with a Cornell Powell 3-yard touchdown run.

The Bears led 7-0 at halftime, but were outscored 13-0 in the third quarter.

Curlings complimented his team’s resilient attitude.

“That’s the way this team has been,” he said. “They bend but don’t break. They keep playing hard and try to find ways to win.

“Hats off to our kids and their attitudes and for sticking with it.”

New Bern turned the ball over three times – two interceptions and a fumble. The defense took the ball away three times.

“We had three turnovers again tonight and our defense kept us in it,” Curlings said. (Defensive) Coach (Steve Lovitt) had a great game plan and kept them off balance.”

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